Check-file



BTRAMBLAY.

CHECK FILE.

Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE]a FELIX TRAMBLAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHECK-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,993, dated November29, 1892. Application filed March 8, 1892. Serial No. 424,207. (Nomodel.)

,To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, FELIX TRAMBLAY, of

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Check-Files; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

In banks, libraries, and other business institutions it is desirable toprovide a receptacle or receptacles for so filing checks, drafts,return-cards, or other vouchers or memoranda in alphabetical or otherpredetrmined order as to facilitate ready access thereto in the regulardaily routine of business. One class of devices heretofore in use forthis purpose has comprised a drawer-shaped frame or case providedinteriorly with transverse partitions constructed to slide freely withinsaid case to accommodate a greater or less number of checks, vouchers,or cards between them.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of thisclass of les for general purposes and with a special view to theiremployment in banking institutions as checkfiles and the like.

To this end the invention consists in the matters to be hereinafterdescribed, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a check-fileembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on Figs. 3, 4t,and 5 are sectional details, drawn to a large scale, illustrating someof the novel features of the invention, as hereinafter explained.

The frame or case, which may be constructed of Wood, metal, or othersuitable material, is a rectangular open-top structure consisting ofsides A, front and back pieces A and A2, and a bottom A3, as bestillustrated in Fig. l. Within the case are arranged a number of slidingpartitions B, provided at each end near their upper lower edges Witheyes b to receive parallel supportingrods C, which are connected attheir ends to the front A and back A2 of the case. These rods C aredetachably connected to the ends of the case to admit of their removaland replacement, thereby facilitating the insertion of the partitions Bwithin the case after the completion of the latter, and also admittingofthe removal or insertion of one or more partitions in a completed iile,should occasion require.

A convenient means for attaining this end is illustrated in thedrawings, consisting in forn1- ing sockets c in the ends of the rods Cto receive pins or screws passing through the front A and back A2 of thecase. As illustrated, the sockets c at the front ends ot' the rods C arethreaded to engage the threads of thumbscrews c', passing through thefront A of the case, the sockets c at the rear ends of said rods beingdesigned to fit upon or receive screw or otherstuds c2, projectinginward from the back or rear A2 of the case. Other means may, however,be used, if desired, for removably securing the rods.

To economize space and provide an unobstructed interior space for thefile, the rods C i are desirablv arranged in grooves ct, formed in theinner faces of the sides A, and the eyes b of the partitions B areformed in lugs or ears b', shaped to move freely in the grooves a. ThepartitionsB ends with intermediate ears b2, adaptedto move freely ingrooves a', formed between and parallel with the grooves a of the sidesA, and these ears b2 are pierced to receive a are also provided at theirflexible cord or tape B', carrying stop-buttons.,

b3, designed to limit the movement of said cord B with relation to therespective partitions B, thus enabling the partitions to be nestedclosely together orv moved a desired distance apart, as shown in Fig. 1.The buttons b3 may be adj ustably secured upon the cord B', in order toadmit of varying the Width of the spaces between the partitions B, andare desirably formed of disks or pieces of soft rubber provided eachwith a small perforation, which, owing to the elastic character of therubber, admits ofthe passage of the cord B', but will embrace said cordso snugly as to require the exertion of some force to move a buttonlengthwise of said cord. This construction involves but slight cost, andany required adjustment may be easily and quickly made.

The front ends of the cords or tapes B are secured to the outermost oneof the partitions B or to a follower-board D, Figs. l and 4, Where suchis used, vthereby enabling the op- IOC erator to straighten said cordsand separate the partitions by the forward movement of said frontpartition or follower-board. l

rlhe bottom edges of the partitions B are provided with one or moreguard-lugs b4, which enter longitudinal channels a2,consist ing ofgrooves or slots formed in the bottom A3 of the case, the purpose ofthis arrangement being to preventa check, draft, or other voucher orpaper from becoming lost or misplaced by working down beneath one or theother of the partitions B, between which it has been filed. To avoid theaccumulation of dust and dirt Within the case, the slotted form ofchannel a2 is preferable, and a saving of Weight and material may beeffected by constructing said bottom of a number of independent slats orstrips d2, secured at such distance apart as to leave slots or spacesc2.

between their adjacent edges, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The partitions B may be formed of card- -boa-rd, hard rubber, or othersuitable material, though I prefer to stamp them out from tin or otherlight sheet metal, the latter oc-,

cupying but little space and not being liable to,v warp and bind uponthe guide or supporting rods C. These partitions Bv are each provided atthe top with altag-holder consisting of an elongated lug B2, projectingabove the top edge of the partition and provided with two divergin gslits b5 to receive the opposite ends of a tag, slip, or card E, bearinga name, letter, or some other indication of the contents of thecompartment behind it. The cards or tags E are preferably of the formindicated in Fig. 2that is to say, provided at their ends withextensions or shoulders e, which engage beneath the outer ends of thediverging slits b5, and thus lock said tag or card against accidentaldisplacement.

In the instance shown the lugs B2, formingl the tag-holders, are ofabout a quarter the length of the partitions B and are arranged in twosets, the lugs of one set (marked 1) eX- tendin gfrom the end-say theleft hand end of the partitions toward the center, and the lugs of theother set (marked 2) extending from the center of the partitions towardthe left hand end thereof. By reversing the partitions of either set thelugs B2 thereof will be at or near the right-hand end of said partition,whereby I am enabled to arrange said partitions in series offourscomposed of two members of each set, each tag-holder being clearlyvisible from the front of the case. This arrangement insures economy inconstruction, inasmuch as but two dies are required to make a series offour partitions.

In practice the lugs B2 after completion will be bent rearward on theline of the upper edge of the partitions to bring the card or tagsecured thereon at right angles, or approximately so, tothe line ofsightv to facilitate the ready discernment of the letter, name, or otherdesignating device thereon.

The follower D is preferably of greater thickness than the partitions Band is arranged between the outermost one of said partitions and thefront A of the case. Openings d are provided for the passage of theguide or supporting rods C, and a spring friction device is secured tothe follower adjacent to one of said rods C or to the corresponding rodsat opposite sides of the case, the purpose of said spring being toretain the follower in its various positions of adjustment along thesupporting-rods C. As shown, this device consists of a plate-spring d',arranged within the supporting-rod opening d and secured at one end tothe follower D. The spring bears upon the side of the rod C, its forwardor free end projecting beyond the outer face of the follower D andterminating in a curve or loop to afford a hold for the thumb or lingerof the operator. Any other friction devices may be used, if desired.

1. A check-tile comprising a case having a slotted bottom, guide-rodssecured within the case, and a plurality of loose transverse partitionsmounted on said guide-rods, each partition being provided at its loweredge with depending lugs projecting into the slots of the case-bottom,substantially as described.

2. A check-file comprising a case, a plurality of loose transversepartitions therein provided at their sides with eyes, and two parallelguide-rods secured within the case adjacent to each side thereof andpassing through the eyes of the partitions, substantially as described.

3. A check-file comprising a case, the sides of which are provided withparallel grooves in their inner faces, a plurality of transversepartitions provided at their ends with perfoL rated lugs fitting looselywithin said grooves, and guide-rods located within said grooves, securedat each end thereof and passing through the perforated lugs of thepartitions, substantially as described.

4. A check-file comprising a case, a plural ity of loose transversepartitions therein proa vided at their ends with eyes, and parallelguide-rods removably secured in the case adjacent to each side thereofand passing through the eyes of the partit-ions, substantially asdescribed.

5. A check-file comprising a case having a slotted bottom, two parallelguide-rods secured in the case adjacent to each side there of, and aplurality of loose transverse partitions having depending lugs at theirlower margins adapted to enter the slots in the casebottom and providedat their ends with suitable eyes through which the guide-rods pass,substantially as described.

6. A check-file comprising a case, a plurality of loose transversepartitions mounted on guides within the case, and iiexible connectionssecured to the sides of the partitions to limit the movement of saidpartitions with relation to each other, substantially as described.

7. A check-tile comprising a case, guides secured therein, a pluralityof transverse partitions mounted on said guides, flexible connectionspassing through the partitions at the sides, and adjustable buttons orstops mounted on said connections between the partitions, substantiallyas described.

8. A check-tile comprising a case, guides secured therein, a pluralityof transverse partitions mounted on said guides, a follower also mountedon said guides and provided with a friction device bearing thereon, andflexible connections secured to the partitions and to the follower,substantially as described.

9. A check-file comprising a case, a plurality of loose transversepartitions having eyes at their sides and two parallel guide-rodssecured adjacent to each side ot' the case and passing through the eyesof the partitions, and means, substantially as shown and described, forattaching a tag or designationcard to each of said loose partitions,substan- I tially as specified.

l0. Acheck-le comprising a case having a slotted bottom, guides securedwithin the case, and a plurality of loose transverse partitions mountedon said guides, each partition being provided at its lower end withdepending lugs projecting into the slots of the case-bottom and at itsupper end with a tag-holder comprising an elongated lug, as B2, providedwith two diverging slits b5, substantially as specified.

11. A check-tle comprising acase, a plurality of light transversepartitions having eyes at their sides, parallel guide-rods adjacent toeach side of the case and passing through the eyes of the partitions,and a tag-holder integral with each of said transverse partitions andconsisting of an elongated lug B2, projecting above the top edge of thepartition and provided with two diverging slits b5,tl1e latter beingadapted to receive the opposite ends of a tag or card, substantially asspecified.-

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aftix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FELIX TRAMBLAY.

Witnesses:

HOWARD M. STREETER, J. ATKINS ROBERTSON.

